New
Focus On Learning Plus Emphasis On School Design Keys To Creating
Safe Schools, Author Says

August
1, 2001-- To promote school safety, educators must
design environments where students can acquire the knowledge to
protect themselves and others  a new definition of "learning,"
says the author of the recently published book, "Creating Safe
Schools for All Children."

"Of
all the sources of threats to students, ignorance may be the most
serious," says Daniel L. Duke, who is also director of the
Thomas Jefferson Center for Educational Design at the University
of Virginia. "Many safety problems can be traced to lack of
knowledge regarding how to handle difficult situations, when to
avoid confrontations and what to do in emergencies. Students must
learn how to conduct themselves in ways that reduce the likelihood
of harm."

In
his book published this summer by Allyn & Bacon, Duke offers
seven standards of school safety reflecting conditions that can
provide a safe learning environment for students and staff. They
are:

Students
should know how they are supposed to behave at school and understand
the reasons why;

Rules
are enforced and consequences are administered fairly, consistently
and humanely;

Students
feel valued and cared for;

A
balance exists among efforts to promote appropriate conduct,
discourage misconduct and effectively handle that misconduct
if it occurs;

School
authorities anticipate and prepare for disruptive or dangerous
situations;

A
schools physical environment has been designed to promote
students safety and well-being; and

Parents
and community members are committed to creating and maintaining
safe schools.

"Part
of every schools educational mission must be to teach and
model rules and expectations concerning how students should act
in class, in school when not in class, coming to and leaving school,
and at school-sponsored events," says Duke, a professor at
U.Va.s Curry School of Education.

Duke,
who writes in his book how school safety concerns have changed over
the past 50 years, says people can employ numerous perspectives
in examining the issue. These include the educational viewpoint
as well as those that are psychological, organizational, political,
cultural and design-based, he says.

"Schools
that are safe for all students do not rely on one approach. They
instead offer a variety of prevention, intervention and management
measures that promote good behavior and discourage misconduct,"
he says.

As
director of an educational-design center, Duke knows designers can
create facilities to promote safety. For example, schools can be
designed to reduce the likelihood of conflicts that can occur when
students change classes. Such design elements include better lighting,
unobstructed spaces, glazed surfaces and the location of administrative
offices.

Other
design factors, such as size, also promote safety, he says. "By
designing smaller schools and redesigning large schools into smaller
units, educators can reduce feelings of isolation and foster caring
learning environments."

Maintenance
also plays an important role, he says. "Well-maintained schools
convey to students that they are valued by their community."

Contact:
Ida Lee Wootten, (434) 924-6857

FOR
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Contact the Office
of University Relations at (804) 924-7116. Television reporters
should contact the TV News Office at (804) 924-7550.SOURCE: U.Va. News Services